Many apologizes, none of which could possibly be the salve that sates the aching of your hearts that I've not posted in almost two months. For that, I metaphorically offer my own heart as a symbolic act of emotional sacrifice, and urge your forgiveness. I'll try once more to be more... frequent!)
Whew! It's been awhile since I last updated this blog. So what's been going on? Look up, and see! This was my Halloween costume this year, and here's how I made it! (sort of) For those not familiar with the subject, this is Jack Skellington, the protagonist of Disney's Tim Burton Presents The Nightmare Before Christmas, a beautifully animated, bizarre and catchy musical about the leader of the Land of Halloween (literally the personification of the holiday) stealing the role of Santa Claus from Santa himself to execute Christmas his way, to fill the emotional emptiness he felt with the warmth of Christmas. It's cute, and you should see it. I like it...
This is the frame of the costume, huddled up against itself. At ends of the the shoulders and pelvis braces were loop-screws, that were connected to dowels that had similar loop-screws by carabiners that had screw locks. Repeat at the elbows, knees, and so forth.
The first real test. I quite literally have thought of this costume since senior year of high school, but not in the practical sense until about a year ago.
These are part of a sketchbook musing from about a year ago, maybe beginning of the year. I hope they kind of convey what I was trying to get across.
The real inspiration was Julie Tamor's amazing production design and direction of the Broadway version of Disney's Lion King, specifically Timon, the critter on the right. His face is expressionless (or rather, expression fixed), so a lot of his performance comes from the actor/puppeteer's OWN face. Magically, the audience sees one and the other as the same. Having seen it myself, it's truly a neat experience.
My choice to make him a puppet was partially because I'm not nearly gangly enough, and he's so elegant and thin. He's attached with webbing cloth with hooks and clips. His coccyx rests about 2 inches above my navel. The boots and gloves were grommet-ed, and connected to the forearm dowels with carabiners. The gloves then had a skeleton hand glove slipped over it- the only big-store purchase. The glove fabric was too thin, but stretchy to go over a more durable glove.
My other reason for making him a puppet was this looks silly. Available at many fine retailers. I know it's popular but... c'mon!
I covered the chest with armature wire-mesh, and then covered the mesh with papier mache, for durability.
Then the chest and some dowels were spray painted.
I used Montana Gold spray paint. It's wonderful, and available at Wet Paint, where I work. I'm genuinely impressed with it.
As for the head, I covered a balloon in papier mache. But I then strengthened it with rigid-wrap, plaster of paris, and a gel medium to seal the absorbency of the plaster.
Painted it white, painted the nostrils and smile, and then covered it in a lacquer spray covering. His next was reinforced with a PVC pipe, also painted the same white.
He's life size. Here he is, almost completed, in a desk chair.
With me dressed in black, with a matching balaklava, the effect is complete, and he/I/we hit some parties!
Life of the party indeed! As the night progressed at each once we went to, it became clear that keeping my hands and head covered was a little difficult to pull off. WAY TOO HOT indoors!
But we're flexible.
In the end, it was a great project, a fun time, some wonderful parties, and a terrific way to express oneself in an artistic endeavor. Halloween is a time to have fun, and for me, this was one very Happy Halloween!
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So that's great, Steve- so that's all you did for two months? Of course not. But some of it I can't talk about yet, since it's not live and good to go (of course, the more interesting ones!). But I can show off some stuff I've done.
I actually did this a while ago, but it's been sitting for a while. I don't speak Spanish, but it was fun to research the Latino community for this direct marketing postcard.
I did this design for my girlfriend and myself. I'm not keen on where the Vikings are heading, but I'll do what I can to show my support. Who knows? Maybe an 11th hour save?
The biggest reason I've not blogged as much? I've been working out. A lot. And it's showing. I've spent more time on cardio and weight loss than strength building (not to say I don't occasionally lift a few), and dropped some poundage. I tend to go late at night, and regularly watch Chopped and Next Iron Chef America on Food Network (yes, aware of the incongruity). My picks for the next Iron Chef? I predict Tsai against Tio, but I fear Canora being in the final 2. I don't like his attitude/strategy in non-elimination judging, and I think he gets too flustered in the kitchen.
I realized I'm loosing my hair a while ago, but finally cut it. Here's me as a kabuki.
Here's a Kabuki LEGO Man. The Kabuki LEGO Mans I did a while ago are now featured on Kabuki 21, a great site that has a lot of neat pictures and VERY detailed descriptions of Kabuki theatre. I actually used this site a lot for reference, so when Shôriya Aragorô contacted me to ask if he could display them, it was a lovely and wondrous full circle being completed.
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It is holiday time at Wet Paint, and pretty soon I'll show off some stuff I'm super excited about. So until then...
TTYL!
